Master Pond Manager Full Certificate Course

To view course offerings please click HERE to visit the program page.

Course Description:

The Master Pond Manager (MPM) course is designed to teach participants a wide range of recreational and stormwater pond management skills.  This hybrid course combines online and face-to-face learning, incorporating self-paced lectures, discussions, and quizzes, along with hands-on field day activities.

Course Goals:

• Educate pond owners and pond management professionals on stormwater and recreational pond management techniques.
• Assist pond owners and pond management professionals in implementing pond management decisions to maintain the purpose of stormwater and recreational ponds.
• Increase pond owner and pond management professional awareness of the connection between pond management and watershed health.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Incorporate integrated plant management techniques into pond management plans.
• Explain the importance of conducting regular inspections of stormwater ponds.
• Utilize population assessment techniques to make stocking and harvesting decisions in recreational fishing ponds.
• Employ shoreline buffers as a strategy for pond shoreline erosion mitigation and water quality protection.
• Identify and describe the ways in which landscape management plays a direct role in pond water quality and water quality in receiving water bodies.
• Develop a maintenance strategy for stormwater or recreational ponds that can be used in future pond decision making.

Course Topics:

• Stormwater Pond Design, Permitting, and Maintenance
• Recreational Pond Construction and Permitting
• Water Quality for Recreational Ponds
• Water Quality for Stormwater Ponds
• Integrated Pest Management
• Best Management Practices for Stormwater Ponds
• Fish Management in Recreational Ponds

Course Requirements:

Master Pond Managers will be recognized through this program for their achievement and increase in knowledge in both recreational and stormwater pond management. Participants who complete the full 10-week Master Pond Manager curriculum will also be eligible to receive 3 hours of recertification credits toward their Category 5 pesticide license. To maintain certification, participants must complete continuing education requirements.

To successfully complete this course and obtain certification recognition and the Master Pond Manager badge, participants must:

• Successfully complete all online content and pass the final exam (score of 80%) or higher.
• Attend two required field days.
• Have a Category 5 commercial pesticide license in place, or a non-commercial or private pesticide license. 

Technical Requirements:

To participate fully in this course, you will need:

• An active email address for the individual participating in the course.
• A desktop computer or laptop (recommended): Canvas is available on mobile devices, but some content may appear differently.
• Access to a high-speed internet connection.
• A web browser compatible with Canvas: Chrome and Firefox are recommended.
• Headphones or speakers (closed captioning also available).
• Computer skills including Internet browsing, using email, typing, downloading files, and basic troubleshooting.

Need Help?

• If you need help accessing or registering for a course, please contact Clemson Online at onlineplus@clemson.edu.
• Our support email is monitored Monday-Friday from 8:00-4:30. If you contact us in the evening or on the weekend, we will help you during the next business day.
• Please do not contact CCIT regarding CPE courses. Please reach out to Clemson Online so that we can assist you.
• Using Bulk Purchase? Please inform those you purchase seats for. They will receive an email invitation immediately upon enrollment. For more help, read about bulk enrollments in Catalog.